Dunfermline were unbeaten in eight games before losing away to title-chasing Partick Thistle on Saturday, with Lennon admitting that meeting Premiership side Falkirk had been in his thoughts when selecting his team at Firhill.
“We’re getting punished for players getting picked for Scotland and for getting to the semi-final,” he said.
“The game on Tuesday could have been moved a couple of weeks down the line before the end of the season. So we’ve had to go Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday into this game.”
Airdrie’s point against Dunfermline took them three clear of bottom side Ross County and within five of Greenock Morton.
“People might have been complaining about the integrity of our team selection on Tuesday,” Lennon suggested. “Well, it’s not our fault. Our hands were forced into that – and we got the result anyway.
“But, if other clubs were upset about my team selection, they should take it up elsewhere. We did ask a couple of times if other games could be moved and it was a big flat ‘no’.”
Former Celtic and Bolton Wanderers boss Lennon is relishing the challenge of facing their third Premiership opponent in the cup this season after beating another of his former clubs, Hibs, and Aberdeen in earlier rounds.
A win would take Dunfermline to their first Scottish Cup final since 2007.
“We’ve played very well to get here, so we want to make the most of it,” Lennon added. “I’ve told the players that nobody remembers the semi-finals, so let’s try and make that next step.
“It would just be another accomplishment for me, I’ve had a good career. I’ve faced up to a lot of challenges and overcome them. This would be up there with any of them – I’m really excited about it.”
